Australian documentary filmmaking is in a genuinely strong period right now. Not because of any single breakout hit, but because a steady stream of accomplished, ambitious non-fiction work is being produced across the country. The challenge, as always, is finding it. Distribution for Australian docos remains patchy, and unless a film gets a theatrical run in capital cities or lands on a major streamer, it can disappear without a trace.

That shouldn’t happen to these films. Here’s what I’ve been watching, recommending, and thinking about so far in 2026.

The Big Ones Getting Attention

Under Red Dirt has been generating justified buzz since its premiere at MIFF last year. It follows three generations of a family in the Pilbara navigating the tension between mining employment and land stewardship. Director Chloe Watkins spent four years embedded with her subjects, and the patience shows. This isn’t a polemic. It’s a portrait of people making impossible choices, filmed with a visual sophistication that puts most Australian fiction features to shame.

It’s screening at select cinemas nationally through March and should be on SBS On Demand by mid-year.

Still Here is a different beast entirely. Filmmaker and subject are one and the same: Ravi Shankar documenting his own experience navigating the NDIS system after a spinal injury. It’s raw, occasionally uncomfortable, and absolutely necessary viewing. The bureaucratic absurdity on display would be funny if it weren’t someone’s actual life. Still Here picked up the documentary prize at Sydney Film Festival and has been doing strong business on the festival circuit internationally.

Currently available on DocPlay, which remains the most underappreciated streaming platform in the country.

The Ones You Might Have Missed

Backyard is a quiet suburban observation piece that follows five households in Logan, Queensland, over a single summer. Director Mei Lin Chen lets scenes breathe in a way that’s rare in contemporary documentary. There’s no narration, minimal music, and no attempt to manufacture drama. What emerges is a picture of working-class Australian life that feels honest rather than patronising. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’ve got patience, it’s rewarding.

Available on SBS On Demand.

The Night Parrots isn’t about birds, or at least not primarily. It’s about obsession. The film follows two competing teams of amateur ornithologists searching for evidence of night parrot populations in the South Australian outback. The rivalry is petty, personal, and completely absorbing. Director Brendan O’Sullivan has a gift for finding comedy in mundane situations without mocking his subjects.

Currently touring regional film festivals and expected on Stan later this year.

Muster documents the transition of a fourth-generation cattle station in the Gulf Country to new management after the family patriarch dies. It’s a film about inheritance, obligation, and the question of whether traditional land management practices can survive generational change. Beautifully shot by cinematographer Jess Nolan, who previously worked on the gorgeous Namatjira Project.

Limited theatrical release in April, with a DocPlay window to follow.

Where to Actually Find Australian Docos

This is the perennial frustration. You hear about a film, you want to watch it, and then you spend twenty minutes searching streaming platforms before giving up and watching something on Netflix instead.

Here’s my practical guide to where Australian documentaries actually live in 2026:

DocPlay remains the single best platform for Australian and international documentaries. It’s a subscription service, costs less than a cinema ticket per month, and is consistently stocking new Australian work. If you care about docos, just subscribe. It’s worth it.

SBS On Demand continues to be a free treasure trove. SBS has long been the most important broadcaster for Australian documentary, and their on-demand library reflects that commitment. The interface is clunky and the ad breaks are annoying, but the content is there.

Stan has been increasing its documentary slate, particularly for docos with broader commercial appeal. Their originals have been mixed in quality, but they’re at least investing in the space.

ABC iview carries a solid selection of shorter documentaries and series. The Australian Story archive alone is worth your time.

Festival screenings remain important, particularly for newer work that hasn’t found a distribution deal yet. Keep an eye on Revelation Perth, MIFF, Sydney Film Festival, and the growing number of regional festivals. Many now offer online streaming options for interstate audiences.

Why This Matters

Australian documentary is one of the healthiest corners of our screen industry. The funding pathways through Screen Australia and state agencies are more accessible for documentary than for fiction features, the broadcaster commitment is relatively stable, and the creative talent pool is deep.

But audience awareness remains the bottleneck. Every filmmaker I’ve spoken to in the past year says the same thing: making the film is hard, but getting people to know it exists is harder. The marketing budgets for Australian documentaries are often non-existent, and word of mouth only travels so far.

So consider this my contribution to the word-of-mouth effort. The films listed above are worth your evening. They’re made by talented people telling stories that matter about the country we live in. The least we can do is watch them.

If you’ve seen something great that I’ve missed, I’m always keen to hear about it. Drop me a line through the site.